USAC Australia: Melbourne - Full Curriculum

I loved this experience I endured in January! Although it was a little bit difficult to navigate the course work, I still had a blast! I absolutely loved be able to surf and go on so many excursions that were offered! (Especially skydiving ;)

I dreamt about going to Australia since I was old enough to remember. I always had this mental map of what I expected it to look and feel like, but studying abroad through USAC showed me so much for than I planned for. The unique culture of Melbourne, the laid back attitudes, famous coffee, and the student experience all combined to make my time abroad amazing. I learned so much about myself while abroad, and I will highly recommend any student looking for a study abroad to go through USAC and consider the Melbourne program. This experience was irreplaceable by far, and I made lifelong best friends from around the world.

I am studying abroad at Deakin University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and I am having a wonderful time! I have never had the chance to travel to another continent, so this opportunity to live in Australia has been a life-changing experience. Being able to take a day trip to adventure in the mountains, relax at the beach, or explore the central business district has been fun and unique. This has opened my eyes to how exciting travel is, and I can't wait to continue adventuring. Coming from a small town in Minnesota, this is the first time I have ever been able to do any of these experiences with such ease. Even more exciting has been the friends I have made along the way, especially my roommate! He was very helpful in immersing me in the environment and introducing me to this new lifestyle, and I presume that we will continue to be good friends, even after I go back home. My time in Melbourne has been the best experience of my life, and I hope that one day I will be able to come back!

I enjoyed my time in Melbourne! The campus was beautiful and the architecture was really cool. The living situation was also good in the villages however I wish we were provided with supplies but it was manageable. The students on campus were so friendly!

I remember when I first talked to my advisor about possibly studying abroad. As soon as I expressed my desire, I was immediately told "Yes! That would be such a good thing for you!" Suddenly whirlwind year of applying, prepping, planning, and saving passed, and I found myself and leaving my home country for the first time ever with a final destination of Melbourne, Australia. I was accepted into a USAC study abroad program in which I would I would be living in Geelong, Victoria which is a city about an hour south of Melbourne. Once I arrived, I quickly fell in love with the smaller city feel and the ocean vibes. I lived a little under a mile (or about 2 kilometers as they say) from the ocean. As time went on, I quickly became friends with my housemates and classmates, and they were able to show me many little adventures. I went on lots of hiking trips and was able to experience a completely new part of life. Eventually, my fabulous four months came to an end. When I returned to my home campus in the following fall, I was able to look my advisor in the eye and honestly say, "You're right, that was a really good thing for me."

I loved my program. I got to meet so many interesting people from all over the world, not just Australians. I also got to see more than just Melbourne. I went on multiple trips, including the Great Ocean Road and the Great Barrier Reef. This program is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

My time in Australia, Melbourne, and at Deakin was honestly the best 4 months of my life. I got to travel the world with new friends that I still keep in touch with today and know we will be friends for a long time. Deakin provided us with more than enough social school activities weekly and a free beach trip to start orientation. Being in Melbourne I got the chance to travel to Bali, Sydney, Cairns, New Zealand, Singapore, and the Great Ocean Road. I cannot brag enough about how amazing my experience was in Australia and I would go back in a heart beat. I have actually already planned to complete my degree and apply to jobs in Australia when I am done. I actually met several nurses abroad in hostels, and across my travels and learned about opportunities to gain work visas in hospitals for a few years as a nurse in Australia. I miss it everyday and I would *highly* recommend to anyone who is thinking about traveling abroad to look into Australia.

I had the most amazing time living and learning in Australia. I look back fondly on my experience and miss every aspect of it every single day. I met the loveliest people and had a truly profound, life-changing experience. Studying abroad has opened up so many doors to me, including my current position as a USAC Peer Ambassador at my home university. I have caught the bug and am currently planning my post-grad travel excursions. I could not have asked for a better experience and I am a better person for having studied abroad.